American Vineyard Foundation Provides Over One Million Dollars to Fund Viticulture and Enology Research

Napa, CA – The American Vineyard Foundation (AVF) is pleased to announce funding of over one-million dollars in viticulture and enology research again this year.  The AVF,  which relies on voluntary contributions, maintained support for ongoing projects and provided funding for several new high priority projects. “Thanks to the generosity of nearly one-thousand grower and vintner members, AVF support continues to drive industry research to address the challenges we face in our vineyards and wineries,” remarked AVF Chairman Tony Stephen.

The AVF was able to fund twenty-five of the seventy-one project proposals submitted for research grant consideration.  Each proposal was carefully reviewed by one of six industry panels based on scientific merit, ability to achieve objectives and value to the industry.

The AVF is also partnering with other industry agencies in collaboration with the National Grape and Wine initiative (NGWI) to fund a larger scale project for increasing vineyard efficiency and productivity.  This will be achieved with newly developed technology using field data capture and computer modeling to better predict vineyard variance, ripening and yield expectations.

Members of the AVF are surveyed on a periodic basis to ascertain which issues are most in need of research.  A survey will be conducted later this year and the results will be posted on its website providing researchers and research institutions insight and direction for crafting proposals aligned with grape and wine industry needs.

About the American Vineyard Foundation

The American Vineyard Foundation (AVF) is a California corporation organized in 1978 by the American Society of Enology and Viticulture as a vehicle to raise funds for research in viticulture and enology. Basic and applied research has made the American grape and wine industry the world’s leader. The AVF provides a unique opportunity to unify the industry through an industry-wide research effort to maintain this progress. For more information visit www.avf.org

American Vineyard Foundation Announces 2014 Scholarship Awards

Napa, CA – The American Vineyard Foundation (AVF) is awarding five grants to graduate students conducting viticulture and enology research at University of California Davis and Fresno State University. Funds for these grants are provided by the André Tchelistcheff and Dr. Richard Peterson Scholarship Programs, managed by the AVF since 2007.

Scholarship committee members Dorothy Tchelistcheff, Dick Peterson and Bob Steinhauer weighed factors including: research value to the industry, diversity of fields of study and diversity of research institutions and labs when selecting award recipients.

“We continue to see an impressive applicant response and are pleased with how well the research aligns with the current needs of the industry.  There is an eagerness to address the impact of water shortages and increase water efficiency in the vineyards,” said Tony Stephen, the AVF’s Board Chairman.

UC Davis graduate student recipients Alexander Levin and Jenna Gargrave will focus on viticulture-related research. Alexander researches water efficiency measures in vineyard practices.  He studies regulated deficit irrigation to maintain grape yields while drastically lowering the vine’s water footprint.  Joaquin Fraga is researching breeding practices for drought tolerant rootstocks and Cassandra Bullock is working with salt tolerant rootstocks at Dr. Andrew Walker’s lab. Fresno State University student Clinton Nelson is developing guidelines for commercial growers to improve grape quality and growing efficiency while maintaining or improving yield.

About the American Vineyard Foundation

The American Vineyard Foundation (AVF) is a non-profit organization that enjoys generous voluntary industry support for research in viticulture and enology. The AVF provides a unique opportunity to unify the industry through efficient funding of basic and applied research contributing to the American grape and wine industry’s position as the world’s leader.

Industry Veteran Arthur J. Caputi, Jr., Retires From The American Vineyard Foundation After 35 Years of Dedicated Service

Napa, CA – Arthur J. Caputi, Jr., known to industry friends and colleagues as Art, has announced his retirement from the American Vineyard Foundation (AVF) where he has served as an integral member of the AVF Executive Committee and a founding board member since the Foundation’s establishment in 1978. A respected mentor, pioneer and advocate for the improved progression of the wine and grape industry through research, the AVF honors Art’s contributions to the organization and his invaluable impact on the American wine community not only during his 35-year tenure with the AVF, but over his successful career in the industry spanning an unprecedented 63 years.

Prior to the founding of the AVF, Art’s interest in chemistry blossomed within the winemaking and research laboratories of E. & J. Gallo starting as a teenager in 1950 where he worked summers until completing his education. What began as an interest quickly became a passion, leading Art toward an illustrious career at Gallo where he conducted countless seminal research projects.

Art built one of the first gas chromatographs used for wine analyses; improved methods for total acidity measurements; developed methods for metals analysis; researched electrodialysis (in the late 60’s, almost 40 years before the membrane technology caught up to make it practical); developed methods for carbon dioxide measurement; pioneered the use of Clark electrodes for oxygen measurement in wine; initiated collaborative analysis studies; and worked with U.C. Davis to ascertain the factors involved in ethyl carbamate formation.

Concurrent with his tenure at Gallo, Art helped found the AVF in 1978, served as the American Society for Enology & Viticulture (ASEV) President from 1979-1980 and was an ASEV board member for 20 years, as well as Chair of the ASEV Technical Projects Committee. In 2000, the ASEV honored Art’s significant contributions to the Society and the wine and grape industry for 50 years with the Society’s Merit Award following Art’s retirement from Gallo as Vice President of Technical Services. Over the past decade Art has remained active within the industry as an independent consultant, and has also continued to be instrumental in the growth and success of the AVF.

“On behalf of the AVF Board of Directors, we sincerely thank Art for his longtime AVF involvement and dedicated service to the industry and research community,” said Scott Deitrick, Administrative Manager, American Vineyard Foundation. “As a founding member of the organization, the AVF was most fortunate to have Art’s direction, expertise and leadership behind its development and pursuit to advance the industry through research.”

Art departs the AVF with a legacy that will live on for winemaking generations to come. The AFV acknowledges Art’s fortitude that has led to multiple viticultural and enological milestones over the past 60 years and will continue the progressive vision of one of its most inspiring leaders.

About the American Vineyard Foundation

The American Vineyard Foundation (AVF) is a non-profit organization that enjoys generous voluntary industry support for research in viticulture and enology. The AVF provides a unique opportunity to unify the industry through efficient funding of basic and applied research contributing to the American grape and wine industry’s position as the world’s leader. For more information visit, www.avf.org.

American Vineyard Foundation Announces Viticulture & Enology Student Scholarship Awards

Napa, CA – The American Vineyard Foundation (AVF) is awarding five grants to graduate students who are conducting viticulture and enology research at University of California Davis and Fresno State University. Funds for these grants are provided by the André Tchelistcheff and Dr. Richard Peterson Scholarship Programs, which the AVF has managed since 2007.

Scholarship committee members Dorothy Tchelistcheff, Dick Peterson and Bob Steinhauer weighed factors including: research value to the industry, diversity of fields of study, diversity of institutions and research labs when selecting award recipients. “We had an impressive applicant response this year, and while we wish we could extend our reach even further, we are pleased to help support these students in their current research and education goals,” said Tony Stephen, the AVF’s Board Chairman.

UC Davis students Kayla Burns and Claire Heinitz will focus on viticulture-related research, while Scott Frost and Anna Mantheakis research enology-related issues. FSU student Clinton Nelson is working with Dr. Kaan Kurtural on the cultural practices and management of red varietals in the San Joaquin Valley. Nelson is working to provide guidelines for commercial growers to improve grape quality and growing efficiency, while maintaining or improving yield.

About the American Vineyard Foundation

The American Vineyard Foundation (AVF) is a non-profit organization that enjoys generous voluntary industry support for research in viticulture and enology. The AVF provides a unique opportunity to unify the industry through efficient funding of basic and applied research contributing to the American grape and wine industry’s position as the world’s leader. www.avf.org

Red Blotch Disease Sparks Collaborative Research Effort with Lead Funding by the American Vineyard Foundation

Napa, CA – Concern over the effects and spread of Red Blotch Disease has ignited grape industry interest with support for research to address the issue. Acting on this concern, the American Vineyard Foundation (AVF) received donations from a wide variety of industry-related sources. This generous support, together with additional funding from the California Grapevine Rootstock Research Foundation, will fund more than $250,000 in targeted research over the next year.

“Our first call came from Alan Wei at Agri-Analysis, a company that provides plant and seed testing for the industry,” said Scott Deitrick, co-manager of administration at the AVF.

Wei was part of a group organized to raise awareness and encourage support for the research. Michael Sipiora, of Quintessa, and Bob Steinhauer, owner of Wineland Consulting, were also active in this group and made donations to the cause. Other generous contributions were received from the Consolidated Central Valley Table Grape Pest and Disease Control District, and Pro-Ag Crop Insurance. Support also streamed in from as far away as Virginia with a donation from Lucie Morton-Garrett, who works as a vineyard consultant.

This widespread collaborative effort was directed at a study entitled “Biology and Spread of Grapevine Red Blotch-Associated Virus,” conducted by Mark Fuchs of Cornell University and Mysore Sudarshana with USDA-ARS at UC Davis. Symptoms of the disease include blotches of pink or red veins on green leaves in the fall, when grape leaves would normally be turning a uniform gold color. Growers also might notice that their grapes are slow to develop sugar levels sufficient for winemaking, with some grapes never fully maturing.

With the help of industry support, the AVF is also funding two additional related projects, entitled “Evaluating the Effects of Grapevine Red Blotch-Associated Virus on Symptom Development and Fruit Maturity” and “Development and Application of Next Generation Sequencing to Facilitate the Release of New Grapevine Accessions in Quarantine and Certification Programs.”

About the American Vineyard Foundation

The American Vineyard Foundation (AVF) is a non-profit organization that enjoys generous voluntary industry support for research in viticulture and enology. The AVF provides a unique opportunity to unify the industry through efficient funding of basic and applied research contributing to the American grape and wine industry’s position as the world’s leader. www.avf.org

American Vineyard Foundation Provides Over One Million Dollars in Research Funding to the Wine & Grape Industry

Napa, CA – The American Vineyard Foundation has announced that it is providing over one million dollars for research in 2011 by funding 28 grant proposals submitted for consideration. To further stretch project funding, the AVF collaborated with other wine and grape industry funding organizations such as the California Table Grape Commission, the Oregon Wine Board, the California Raisin Marketing Board, the California Grape Rootstock Improvement Commission and the Grapevine Improvement Advisory Board when possible.

The role played by American Vineyard Foundation to support viticulture and enology research has become even more critical this year following public cuts to other industry research funding programs. Federal support for the Viticulture Consortium West (VCW) and state support for the California Competitive Grants Program for Viticulture and Enology (CCGPVE) were eliminated for this year, leading to a 40%reduction in money available for industry research.

The American Vineyard Foundation, which relies on voluntary contributions from industry growers and vintners, was able to perpetuate ongoing projects as well as fund a few new high priority proposals. “While we are disappointed about federal and state program cuts that have led to a reduction in overall research investments, we are pleased that the generous support from our growers and vintners has allowed the AVF to maintain an impressive level of industry research funding,” remarked AVF Chairman Jim Frisinger.

Each proposal was carefully considered by one of six industry review panels based on scientific merit, ability to achieve objectives and importance to the industry. Members of the American Vineyard Foundation are surveyed on a periodic basis to ascertain which topics are most in need of research. These results are then posted on the AVF website giving researchers and research institutions an opportunity to craft proposals that will address grape and wine industry needs.

Proposals included such diverse topics as leafroll disease epidemiology and research designed to develop a clearer understanding of tannin extractability and activity.

About the American Vineyard Foundation

The American Vineyard Foundation (AVF) is a California corporation organized in 1978 by the American Society of Enology and Viticulture as a vehicle to raise funds for research in viticulture and enology. Basic and applied research has made the American grape and wine industry the world’s leader. The AVF provides a unique opportunity to unify the industry through an industry-wide research effort to maintain this progress. For more information visit www.avf.org

AVF Leads $2.5 Million in Viticulture Research Funding

Napa, CA – The American Vineyard Foundation (AVF) and several other organizations have joined together to fund over $2.5 million in viticulture and enology research projects in 2010. The American Vineyard Foundation alone contributed over $1 million in funds, with the balance coming from other agencies. A total of 79 research proposals, including such diverse topics as mealybug control and microbiomics, were meticulously reviewed by a panel made up of members from each granting authority. In the end 51 projects were funded, 36 of those by the AVF.

“We are pleased to report another increase in our level of research funding,” remarked Scott Deitrick, AVF Manager of Administration, “and we’d like to acknowledge the community of growers and vintners whose generous AVF support has made this possible.”

Members of the American Vineyard Foundation are surveyed on a periodic basis to ascertain which topics are most in need of research. These results are then posted and reviewed by researchers and research institutions to decide which topics most meet industry needs. The final topics are deemed most important in keeping American viticulture and enology on the forefront of the world of wine.

About the American Vineyard Foundation

The American Vineyard Foundation (AVF) is a California corporation organized in 1978 by the American Society of Enology and Viticulture as a vehicle to raise funds for research in viticulture and enology. Basic and applied research has made the American grape and wine industry the world’s leader. The AVF provides a unique opportunity to unify the industry through an industry-wide research effort to maintain this progress. For more information visit www.avf.org.

American Vineyard Foundation Receives 78 Grant Proposals

Napa, CA – The American Vineyard Foundation (AVF) has received 78 funding requests for projects ranging from mealybug control to microbiomics, and is now deliberating on how to allocate over $1 million in available research funds among these grant requests. The mission of the AVF is to raise funds that address grape and wine industry research priorities, helping keep American viticulture and enology on the forefront of the world of wine. Following comprehensive viticulture and enology surveys sent to over 3,000 industry members, the AVF identified the topics most important to the grape and winemaking community. Research proposals to address these topics were then solicited by the AVF. Each proposal received by the AVF was evaluated by an industry review committee in one of the following disciplines:

  1. Breeding and Genetics
  2. Cultural Practices
  3. Disease Management
  4. Enology
  5. Outreach and Education
  6. Pest Management.

The AVF relies on these six review panels to examine and evaluate the proposals and annual reports. Each of these committees is comprised of a diverse set of industry reviewers having technical expertise within each area. The AVF works cooperatively with the California Table Grape Commission, the California Grape Rootstock Improvement Commission, the California Grape Rootstock Research Foundation, the California Raisin Marketing Board, the California Competitive Grant Program for Research in Viticulture and Enology, the Viticulture Consortium Program for the Western Region, the California Winegrape Inspection Advisory Board, the Oregon Wine Board, and Washington State Grape & Wine Research to maximize the available research funds. Representatives from all of the named groups have been working together to streamline the research proposal submission and review process. Funding announcements will be made in May 2010.

“We are very pleased with this year’s level of industry support,” remarked AVF Chairman Jim Frisinger.

Because the AVF is typically able to fund 35-40%of the proposals submitted, the research review process is critical to ensure that we are funding the work that best meets industry needs and is most likely to produce applicable results. About the American Vineyard Foundation The American Vineyard Foundation (AVF) is a California corporation organized in 1978 by the American Society of Enology and Viticulture as a vehicle to raise funds for research in viticulture and enology. Basic and applied research has made the American grape and wine industry the world’s leader. The AVF provides a unique opportunity to unify the industry through an industry-wide research effort to maintain this progress. www.avf.org

Industry Icon, Jim Frisinger, Named Chairman for 2010

Napa, CA – November 24, 2009: The American Vineyard Foundation, an organization whose mission is to raise funds that address grape and wine industry research priorities, has named Jim Frisinger, long-time member of the AVF board of directors, as chairman for the 2010 term.

Jim Frisinger believes that the American Vineyard Foundation is one of the keys to the future of the wine business in the US. ?What we?ve done over the past fifteen years,? he notes, ?has been the difference between night and day, success and failure. And as we move forward against an increasingly international competitive market, our research, and the incremental improvements we have made, will be a vital advantage to us all.?

After graduating from Iowa State University with a Bachelors Degree in horticulture, Jim first visited California in 1973 to look at the University of California, Davis and visit Napa Valley, where he met Myron Nightingale, the winemaker at Beringer Vineyards. It would be another seven years before he returned to Napa ? but the seed was planted.

Jim went on to receive a Masters Degree in viticulture and enology at UC Davis. He continued his post graduate work there as a staff researcher and teaching assistant for several years.

In April of 1980, Jim joined the Vineyard team at Beringer, which then farmed approximately 1,800 acres of vineyard land. In 2003, Jim was promoted to Vice President of North Coast Vineyard Operations. He oversaw almost 4,000 acres of vineyards on the North Coast, handling all strategic development and viticulture operations, from planting, pruning, and cultivating through to harvest.

Jim is involved with numerous organizations, including the American Society of Enologists and Viticulturists, the Napa Valley Vineyard Technical Group and the Napa County Winegrape Pest and Disease Board. He is a graduate of the California Agriculture Leadership program and has been on the board of the American Vineyard Foundation for over ten years, five of them on the executive committee.

A true enthusiast, Jim personally owns twenty acres of vineyards around his home in Napa, where he grows Chardonnay.

About the American Vineyard Foundation

The American Vineyard Foundation (AVF) is a California corporation organized in 1978 by the American Society of Enology and Viticulture as a vehicle to raise funds for research in viticulture and enology. Basic and applied research has made the American grape and wine industry the world’s leader. The AVF provides a unique opportunity to unify the industry through an industry-wide research effort to maintain this progress. www.avf.org

$1.9 Million in Funding for Viticulture Research

Napa, CA – Three major viticultural research funding organizations have joined together to contribute almost $2 million for viticulture and enology research projects in 2009. Over $1 million in funding was granted by the American Vineyard Foundation, with the balance coming from the Viticulture Consortium West and the California Competitive Grant Program for Research in Viticulture and Enology.

A total of 125 research proposals, including such diverse topics as leafroll disease, diminishing greenhouse gas emissions, and mealybug sex pheromones, were meticulously reviewed by a panel made up of members from each granting authority. In the end, 56 projects were funded, 38 of those by the AVF.

“We are very pleased with the caliber of research proposals which have been submitted,” says Hal Huffsmith, Chairman of the Board and Senior Vice President of Vineyard Operations at Trinchero Wine Estates. “Each year the researchers delve deeper into the issues which are most important to the grape industry.”

Members of the American Vineyard Foundation are surveyed on a periodic basis to ascertain which topics are most in need of research. These results are then posted and may be reviewed by researchers and research institutions. “With more funding we will be able to research even more of the issues which impact our industry,” notes Huffsmith.

About the American Vineyard Foundation

The American Vineyard Foundation (AVF) is a California corporation organized in 1978 by the American Society of Enology and Viticulture as a vehicle to raise funds for research in viticulture and enology. Basic and applied research has made the American grape and wine industry the world’s leader. The AVF provides a unique opportunity to unify the industry through an industry-wide research effort to maintain this progress.

# # #